In their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023, Egypt narrowly escaped a defeat against Mozambique, thanks to a late penalty converted by captain Mohamed Salah. The game, which ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, saw the 7-time champions Egypt being pushed to the brink by a determined Mozambican side.
Egypt took an early lead, just two minutes into the game, with Mohamed Mostafa scoring with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner. Mostafa, later in the game, had another chance created by Salah, but his effort was saved by Mozambique’s goalkeeper Ernan Siluane.
Mozambique, undeterred by the early setback, mounted a strong comeback in the second half. Witness Quembo’s powerful header in the 55th minute marked Mozambique’s first goal in the competition in 14 years, leveling the score. Shortly after, Clesio Bauque’s breakaway goal gave Mozambique a surprising lead, sending shockwaves through the Egyptian team.
In the closing stages of the match, a pivotal moment occurred when Domingos Macandza brought down Mostafa Mohammed in the penalty area. After a VAR review, Egypt was awarded a penalty, which Salah confidently converted, salvaging a draw for the Pharaohs.
This result sets up an intriguing scenario in Group D, with Egypt slated to face Ghana next at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on January 18. The match highlighted not only the resilience and fighting spirit of the Mozambican team but also the pressure on the Egyptian side to live up to their status as one of the favorites in the tournament.
